Boro bounced back from missing an early penalty to see off the challenge of the pyramid part-timers with four goals in a solid show in the FA Cup.

CLINICAL Boro fired into the fourth round of the FA Cup with an emphatic 4-1 Riverside win over pyramid part-timers Hastings.

But it wasn't all plain sailing. Merouane Zemmama put Boro ahead after Ishmael Miller had missed a penalty but then keeper Jason Steele had to make a couple of good saves - including a point blank reflex block from team-mate Andy Halliday - as Hastings launched a spirited fightback.

After the break Halliday and Zemmama scored to put Boro well on top but Bradley Goldberg scored a cracker to give Ryman League Hastings some hope before Miller sealed it late on.

It was a professional display from Boro as they saw off a side 131 places below them in the football pecking order and avoided a potential bananaskin.

Despite the injury crisis - Boro had 13 on the injured list this week - Tony Mowbray played a strong team but in an unusual 3-4-3 formation with Nicky Bailey as a makeshift centre-back alongside Rhys Williams and Andy Halliday. And Boro had issued new squad numbers to two teenagers on the bench, midfielders Jordan Jones (26) and Bryan Morris (29).

Boro attacked from the off and had an early corner cleared then won a free-kick after Zemmama was fouled and although Thomson's ball was nodded down in the box by Reach it wouldn't quite fall to Miller and it was scrambled away. Soon after Miller lashed a shot just over after a sharp turn just outside the box.

Boro had a good spell of patient possession with some crisp passing and lively Miller was causing chaos with surging runs down the right but the minnows were working very hard to close down quickly and get tackles in.

Boro carved out the first real chance on 11 minutes as Thomson sent Halliday down the left and he chipped in neatly for Miller but his side-footed effort was turned behind.

Then from Luke Williams' corner Miller sent a header flashing just over.

And on 14 minutes after another sustained spell of pressure Thomson drilled in a 25 yards hot that was deflected behind by a lunging blocking tackle then the corner was cleared.

Boro should have gone ahead on 16 minutes when won a soft penalty.

Another Thomson shot was blocked in a crowded box and when Miller turned onto the rebound he was bundled over by Vickers who was then booked for dissent as he disputed the penalty call. When the protests died down Miller stepped up but his low shot-kick was weak and easy for keeper O'Brien to save.

But Boro were back to take what seemed the inevitable lead on 22 minutes.

Thomson squared for MEROUANE ZEMMAMA 22 yards out and he looked up then curled in a sublime shot that arrowed just under the bar.

Boro almost had another two minutes later as Reach wriggled into the box from the left and skipped through two challenge then cracked in an angled drive that brought a good save.

And on 28 minutes they went close again as Luke Williams cut in from the left and drilled a low shot into the side netting.

Boro almost broke through on 31 minutes as Reach scooped up a long diagonal ball from Bailey to cut in from the left and when his shot was blocked by a defender it looped to Miller six yards out but the referee blew for a mystery offence before he could shoot.

Hastings had barely been in the Boro half but a long ball forward saw them win a corner on 35 minutes that was easily cleared.

And Boro should have got a second when it was played quickly upfield and Miller beat his marker to surge towards the box but Hastings player-boss Sean Ray had burst all the way back to make a fantastic tackle in the box as the striker shaped to shoot.

Hastings got a rare chance on 37 minutes when a free-kick sparked a scramble then Crellin's shot was deflected behind off Halliday.

And a minute later Goldberg surged forward onto a Camara pass and rounded the advancing Steele to slot into the open net but the offside flag had gone up early and Hastings man Vickers was booked for dissent over the decision.

And Hastings almost snatched a freak leveller on 44 minutes as Camara got down the right and crossed in and as Halliday went to clear he sent the ball squirting towards his own net but Steele went full length to save superbly.

HALF-TIME: BORO 1 HASTINGS 0

Boro scored the vital second within two minutes of the restart to take total control.

Luke Williams whipped a corner from the left dipping into the crowd and when Miller took a swing and missed it bounced through for ANDY HALLIDAY to crash it into the roof of the net from six yards out.

And Halliday could have had another a minute later when Parnaby slotted a diangonal ball into the box and he nipped it to poke a weak low shot that came back off the keeper's legs.

Then, as Boro swept forward, Reach wriggled down the left and cut inside to send a curling 25 yard shot drifting wide of the near post.

Hastings almost pulled one back on 59 minutes as they broke quickly and skipper Carey sent a 25 yard screamer through a crowd that sent Steele full length to push onto the post and behind.

And when Boro failed to clear the corner there was a furious scramble before Crellin poked home but the whsitle had already gone for a foul.

On 61 minutes Redcar-born Jordan Jones, 18, came on for Luke Williams to make his debut.

And the youngster almost made a dream start as a Miller run was halted in the box and the ball rolled free to the youngster but a defender's boot arrived to block and his shot looped to the far post and was collected by the keeper.

Boro made it three on 68 minutes as MEROUANE ZEMMAMA collected 25 yards outside the box then cracked in a shot that took a wicked deflection off a defender and flashed in.

Straight down the other end Hastings made the long trip worth it for the 1,000 travelling fans as striker BRADLEY GOLDBERG lashed in from 25 yards out of the blue on 67 minutes.

On 73 minutes Faris Haroun came on for Parnaby

Boro threaten close on 73 minutes when Halliday squeezed a low shot through the crowd that was well saved then when Reach got to the rebound and played across the face of goal towards Miller at the far post the flag went up.

On 82 minutes Hartlepool lad Bryn Morris, just 16, came on for Zemmama to make his debut.

Boro sealed it on 85 minutes as Haroun pushed a ball behind the defence for ISHMAEL MILLER to take it in his stride and slot a low shot home.

Hastings had a chance for a late face saver as Thomson handled just outside the box on 88 minutes but Goldberg blazed the free-kick high over.

And in stoppage time Okojie played Goldberg into the box but Williams arrived with a sliding tackle to block and from corner Crellin lashed his angled shot well wide.

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